Inspired by her work as a postpartum doula, this poem by Shelley Kavanagh, captures the overwhelm and intensity of that birth and postpartum period - especially if a birth has not gone as planned and there has been birth trauma. It captures so well the huge lack of support and loneliness so many new parents experience after baby arrives. The invisibility of a new Mother/birthing person when the majority of society moves their focus to the baby and forgets about the parents, dismissing their experiences, once baby is healthy and well.

17 years ago I had my first baby and it changed my life. I had feared childbirth in early pregnancy, but thankfully found tools and supports to help me manage and actually enjoy my labour. While things did not go as planned I had a really positive experience and love sharing my story to help inspire others.

The vernix caseosa is a greasy, cheese-like coating that covers babies’ skin during their time in the womb. It may not look pretty but the vernix actually serves an important function.

“I am often asked what is “The Best” sling to get for a new baby, and that is very difficult to answer. That is like asking me to pick out your new winter coat; what I like & feel comfortable in & what you like & feel comfortable in are two different things!”

It is common in the early days to hear of mums having breastfeeding problems. Even though breastfeeding may be natural, it is a learned skill.

Often parents ask me, how can my partner bond with our baby if they can't give a bottle? Well feeding is only one element in your babies whole life! There are so many things for partners to do.

The Bishop Score is also known as the cervix score. It is used to asses the condition of your cervix and where your baby is sitting in your pelvis. This score can help your care provider to decide what course of action they recommend.

A high BMI in pregnancy is associated with greater risk of a variety of pregnancy-related complications compared with women within a normal BMI. BMI is not always accurate, however we are referring to those with a high body fat relative to their height.